WRC dismisses 25 claims against Social Welfare Appeals Office chief

The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed 25 complaints brought by Joseph Chikelue Obi against Joan Gordon, chief appeals officer of the Social Welfare Appeals Office, finding no employment relationship between them. The decision was dated 13 February 2023. The claims covered employment, equality, pension, redundancy and other legislation. Obi said he was self-employed, and the WRC said the claims stemmed from his application for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme. The respondent disputed the claims and said Obi had never been its employee. The WRC described the claims as misconceived and incorrectly based in law, and dismissed them under statutory powers. It did not determine the underlying allegations on their merits.